Bowland Benefice
Pews News 10 March 2024
Mothering Sunday Collect
God of love,
passionate and strong,
tender and careful:
watch over us and hold us
all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This Week in the Benefice

Sunday
10 March
Mothering
Sunday

10.30am Mothering
Sunday Service
in Upton
Snodsbury
10.30am Mothering
Sunday Family
Service in
White Ladies
Aston
11.00am Holy
Communion in
Peopleton
4.00pm Mothering
Sunday Family
Service in
Broughton
Hackett

Tuesday
12 March

7.00pm Lent Course at
The Rectory,
Peopleton

Wednesday
13 March

1.00pm Funeral of Les
Dale at Vale
Crematorium

Friday
15 March

7.30pm Film Night at
The Parish
Room, White
Ladies Aston

Saturday
16 March

10.30am Churchyard
tidy-up in
Upton
Snodsbury –
refreshments
available!

Sunday
17 March
Passiontide
begins

10.30am Benefice Holy
Communion in
White Ladies
Aston
Leslie Dale - Funeral on Wednesday
We think of Julia and family at this time.
Bless those who mourn, eternal God,
with the comfort of your love
that they may face each new day with hope
and the certainty that nothing can destroy
the good that has been given.

A short meditation and prayer for the
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Lord, grant us simplicity of faith
and a generosity of service
that gives without counting cost.
A life overflowing with Grace
poured out from the One
who gave everything,
that we might show
the power of love
to a broken world,
and share the truth
from a living Word.
Lord, grant us simplicity of faith,
and a yearning to share it.
Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday was originally a time when people
returned to the church where they were baptised. It
became the custom for young people who worked in
large houses to be given the day off on Mothering
Sunday to visit their own mothers and they often took
gifts of food, flowers or hand-me-down clothing from

their employers.

People fasted and ate simply during Lent, but this was
relaxed for Mothering Sunday and Simnel Cakes were
often prepared and shared with the family.
A Simnel Cake is a light fruit cake decorated with 11
Marzipan balls representing the Disciples, excluding
Judas. Legend has it that it was named after Lambert
Simnel who worked in the kitchens of Henry VII

around the year 1500.

It is a time to remember and be grateful for the love
and guidance of mothers and the security of home
and family life. Places of rest, laughter and
forgiveness. Places just ‘to be’.

A time to remember all those who have never and will
never experience the happiness and protection of a
stable, loving home. We think of all those uprooted by
war, politics and natural disasters struggling to protect
and maintain their families and keep children safe.
A Prayer for Mothering Sunday
Loving God, on Mothering Sunday we thank you for
mothers – for all they mean or have meant;
for the love they have shown and the care and
guidance they have given.
We thank you for their qualities of patience,
kindness, concern and understanding.
We thank you for the part they play in our lives.
We thank you for this day of saying ‘thank you’ -
for this opportunity to say what we so often mean

to say but so rarely do.
For mothers and motherhood,
for fathers, children and families.
We bring you this day our grateful praise. Amen.